‘Running through our veins’ : a longitudinal study of the agentic role of arts-based practice in nature attunement

As contemporary educators, we are confronted by the environmental imperatives of today’s Anthropocene. For many who use creative methods in our teaching practice, we are influenced by immersive, tactile, and embodied learning experiences. Set against this backdrop, the residual and long-term impacts of Arts-based environmental initiatives remain unclear. Originally conducted in 2012, Touched By The Earth (TBTE) was a pilot enrichment program for Year 7 and 8 gifted and talented students. As a cross-curricula Arts initiative, TBTE embedded geography, history, and science into the school curriculum. This paper examines the longitudinal effect upon the students as they entered the final years of their senior schooling in an attempt to investigate the lingering impact from their yearlong nature-infused experiences. Four years later, the longitudinal results indicated an enduring and positive impact on pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs), nature connectivity and appreciation of the arts-based curriculum.